PES object to propossed Commission President

dublin | eu | press release

Wednesday June 30, 2004 11:17

by Euro Labour

Open Letter to the members of the European Council

Re : Nomination of new Commission President – No Prior Acceptance of Prime Minister Barroso – Doubt on qualifications for this position

Open Letter to the members of the European Council

Re : Nomination of new Commission President – No Prior Acceptance of Prime Minister Barroso – Doubt on qualifications for this position

To all members of the European Council,

We have been informed that as members of the European Council, you may intend to propose Prime Minister Barroso of Portugal as your candidate for the next Presidency of the European Commission.

As you know, the next President of the European Commission must command a broad majority in the European Parliament, which cannot be provided by any single Group in the Parliament.

The Treaty of Nice endowed the President of the European Commission with far greater political responsibilities. His challenge is all the more vital following this year’s European elections, which revealed a deep malaise amongst many European citizens with regard to the EU. We believe that the next President of the European Commission must, therefore, be capable of ensuring that the EU responds better to the everyday hopes and concerns of ordinary citizens.

The Party of European Socialists and its Group in the European Parliament will base its final judgement on the candidate’s ability to meet these challenges. In a letter addressed to Prime Minister Ahern by Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, President of the Party of European Socialists, on 25th June, we underlined that the candidate must possess the following four qualities in order to gain the support of European socialists :

? Proven experience in promoting the European project ;
? A strong belief that strengthening Europe’s competitiveness can and must go hand in hand with social responsibility and security ;
? Be capable of communicating Europe across an enlarged Europe ;
? Have the capacity to better gather diverse political forces in favour of shared European objectives.

At present, the Party of European Socialists and its Group in the European Parliament doubt that Prime Minister Barroso possesses the first two of these qualities.

We therefore strongly urge you, as members of the European Council, to consider alternatives, which fulfill all the above criteria without question. You will certainly be able to find qualified candidates. We would like to state clearly that we, and in particular the socialist group in the European Parliament, will judge the candidate on the above criteria, upon the final decision of the European Council on its candidate for the European Commission.

Yours sincerely,

Poul Nyrup Rasmussen,
President of European Socialists

Enrique Baron Crespo,
President of the Parliamentary Group of the Party of Socialists

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Comments (4 of 4)

ummm

by Labour lover - Labour Party hater

Wed Jun 30, 2004 12:12

So which right winger did the PES want to propose. Lord Robertson of Port Ellen perhaps, that famous ex-member of the grouping? After leading Nato perhaps he's too busy receiving the United States’ highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from George Bush. Or if not kow-towing to the imperial warlord he might be too busy working for Smiths Defence, Cable and Wireless and Royal Bank of Canada Europe.
I suppose there might be some other member of the neo-liberal socialist grouping who might have been a suitable candidate for the post.

good work

by Chris Bond

Wed Jun 30, 2004 17:27

I have my doubts about a centre right european president and PES are correct to oppose him.

I also think PES should expel british labour from their parliamentary group,Particularily after the war in iraq.

Barroso

by Historian

Thu Jul 01, 2004 02:29

He's got an interesting political history.

He started out as a Communist (a Maoist). Now he's a Thatcherite.

One wonders who of today's generation of resistors will end up as the enemy.

Look about you, see who it might be, it might even be yourself.

Barrosso

by History fan

Thu Jul 01, 2004 10:11

"He started out as a Communist (a Maoist). Now he's a Thatcherite."

Bit like Ruari Quinn then? It's a wonder they are objecting.

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PES object to propossed Commission President

Comments (4 of 4)